Compare towns
Berlin vs Rowley vs Sutton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berlin | Rowley | Sutton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
1,708Lowest |
9,452Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Sutton | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sutton High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.